Clutch



i j v15.' Fig. 2 is a longitudinalV 'Patented Apr. 1Q, i928..

` ARTHUR A. BYERLEIN, or nn'rnorr, MICHIGAN@ CLUTCH.

j. Apbiieatinn filed Julie 16, 1924. serii No, 720,324..

v:ments lofthe clutchand forlo'cking thead-y Y VReferring' to the drawings, 20 designates 'f y l a..pinion which will herein Vbe termed the driven pinion, `this driven pinion -lo,e1n

justing mechanism in 'adjusted position.

Further Vrohjects loi the invention will loe'V vapparent from thepfollowing description,

v. alienl in, connection with 'the` accompanying drawings, in which; .l y Y "Fig, 1. s an end elevationallview ofthe present invention; and y view taken Online' 2er-2 ofA Fig. ,1;

I n rictionclutches for use in'connection.

with heavy machinery, such as drawing presses` adapted Vfor vworking sheety metal 'toforni automobile hodiesi t"hasbeen avprob lem to secure proper adjustment of the fricf` tional elements of the .clutch rand to main-y tain such adjustment owing` to the vgreat .size Vand weight of the parts and the ditliculty of moving them.. 4rlhepresent invention` ycontemplates overcoming this difficulty loy the.,

introduction in a clutch of'suitalole ,means Y for effecting a rapid land-also a slow adjustment'of the rictional elementsfand for lock-V ing the parts in theiradjustedy position.

mounted for rotation upon' thefdriving shaft .'21.` Suitablebushings 22 are `provided in theA driven pinionl 20 for' rotation upon the, 'shaft' 21. Secured to one end of the pinion,V

l 20, as loyV means of. akey 23 is aclutch casing or` drum 2 4 having a cylindrical portion 25 adapted to `housefthe riction-clutchjele- .ments,pwhich are'illustrated as discs', 26. A

v cover 27- closes the one' end of the 'clutch drum 24and serves to completely house the discs. The cover 27 is held inpla-ce by means of a numberof bolts 28 which'are` adapted Vto 4receive slidaloly. thereon feXtenY ksions.'"formedYon' certain` of `the discs 26V.` ffl/Vithin' thev clutch casing `24- and rigidly( lstvecured, to the driving shaft 211by'means of akey 29 is azcollar'-EO vto the-outer periphery j of ,which are slidaloly ,keyed the :remaining clutch fdiscs .126.

l l For convenience lin description the driven 'U'I- -designated asthefdriven clutch,` member; @vided with a lug t? which is"taste-nedto:l

parts secured to rotatetherewith aref-herein ertical sectional thereto, are herein termed the driving lclutch `memberL As is well` understood, the Y driven clutch'memloer vis clutched to the ydri-vingrclutch memberby y'compressing the fricy' f,lilrewisewltliedriving shait'21 the Y secured vfor rotationjtherewitlr, including the' y collar 3() v.and the frictionfelements keyed tionalv discs under suchQpres'sure thatftlie i' 'driving and vthe driven' members are' I caused to yrotate together. The driven clutch mem'- l Y, ber' is releasedfrom the driving-clutch mem-Q 1 the discs. Thefmechanism'j V.for `"clutching" to-4 gether .or releasing" the driving and-,fthe

l'loer loy 'merely'releasing thefpressureup'on i @over `271s provided. withv plurqlitygff apertures` 31,v which are` disposed in ja, circle'- aboutthe shaft 2,1'. Adjacent-each of these l apertures thel outside clutch ldisc isl` provided with lugs -32V andthe cover .27 is'provided with 'lugs' es-, i Toggle links si and a5' are f pivotallyconnected between the lugs 32fgand, l 33, which when fully extended as shown in Fig 2 are adaptedto hold the.'rictioiial` discs 4in clutching'y engagement, vand when broken 'Y to hold *they discsout; of Vdrivingrengageinentf v,The toggle` is operated by means n. ofwallinlr 36 whichis pivotally connected' to a sleeve 37 slidably ymountedupon alguide Y 38,;the`.lattereztendingoutwardly from `thep v001761527/and 'being vrotatable vupon shaft, 21.1.,` y i VMovement ofthe sleeve fisfcontrolled'by operating lever- 39 through' a collar LOfslid` ably'mounted inacircumferential groovel l formed insleevef37-f Y Adjustment of' the friction 'f1-discs'. effected byme'ans of a 'numberoffcfircumferentially f disposed adjusting vpins .212, -`Vv 'which pass Y, axially through apertures 43 ."'o'rme'd in clutch".,casing '24, lthe inner y"endsyofthe' pins abuttinglagainst theendclutchfelement-v or disc 26. vrAn adjusting ringlwhich has l upon'the'clutch drum 24E-,isl adapted "to loear inglring 44, isfprovidedaliout its periphery with a 'number ot holes 46A or` other form ofv tool-hold adapted to receivey 'a j suitable tool,

ical," f

wherebythe'adjustingringmay be rotated A i To effect a slowor yfine adjustment of-the clutch discs the adjustinmring-,411v ispro'- "on screw threads 45 therebyfeffecting arpid l j. i l orf coarse adjustment of thgclutch dscs'fq i :1 ipinion 20, the clutch'drumS24;A and the `other its periphery by means of screws 48p After the rapid or coarse adjustment of the clutch has been etected, a bracket 49 carrying the adjusting screws 50 is secured to the clutch casing 24 in such a position that the lug 47 comes between the two adjusting screws 50 as indicated in Fig. l. The bracket 49 is secured in positionr by means of the screws 51 whichv are received in tapped holes 52.

The,tapped holes 52 are distributed in a circle over the face ot the clutch casing so that the bracket 49 lcan always be secured opposite th-e lug 47 in such position as to receive the lug between the adjusting screws 50. The slow or tine adjustment of the clutch is lsecured by turning-,one of the screws 50 in the, desired direction, and after the adjustment is completed, the adjusting ring 44 may be locked in position by turning the other SGIQW 50. so that the luO 47 is'riffidl held e s J .between the two adjusting screws.Y

`From the foregoing it-will be apparent Vthat the-.present invention provides adjusting means particularly auaptedi'or friction clutches ofextrenie size and weight in which accurate adjustment ofthe parts is ordinarilyzdiiicult to secure by reason oi the Y large size, weight'and friction ofthe parts.

1 that ated rapidly to eect the coarse'adjustment v The 4present' invention has the radvantage the adjusting ring may first be operof the clutch, andv may then be operated very slowly to eiiect the line adjustment ot the clutch, thereby giving a Vmoreperfect control than has heretofore been possible in' clutches of large size. It has the still turther advantage of positive locking ot the clutch in its desired adjustment.

llVhile the form oi apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment oi' the invention, it is to be understood that vthe invention is not' limited'to this precise Y nism vand adjustable while maintaining the' form of apparatus, and that changes mayl bts-.macle-therein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention which is deiined in the appended claims.. i j y A Vhatfis claimed is: j j '1; In a clutch apparatus Vot the character described, clutch members adapted to. be

@clutched together, said clutch members carrying-meansadapted to be moved into and out otengagement 'with yone another, operat- Vingmechanism for controlling vthe. engagement; of said means, and 'adjusting mecha- `Ilsm for the clutch, said mechanism comp ilsing anabutment-operatively connected withA said means, means operable for ei'l`ecting a Jrapid 'adjustmentot the abutment, and

means operable for eitecting a slow adjustment ottliefabutment, said adjustingnieans' bein finde endent of said o eratinff mechag P s clutch in itsassembled condition.

2..'In a clutch apparatus of the character described, clutch members adapted to be adjustment member, and means described, clutch members adapted to be clutched together, said clutch members lcarrying means adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with one another, a rotatable adjusting member operatively connected.

with onev ot the clutch members, means-for etiecting a rapid adjustment of the adjustment member, and means for effecting a' slow movement et the adjustment member, said last mentioned means includingV an adjusty ing screwrdisposed tangentially to the adjusting member.

4. in a clutch apparatus' of the" character described, clutch members Aadapted to be clutched together, said rclutch members carrying means adapted to'be moved into and out of engagement with one another, a rotata" ie adjusting member operatively connected with one oi the clutch members, means for effec i ment member,.and means for eilectinga' slow irovenient oi3 the adjustment" member, said last mentioned means including a pair ot opposed adjusting screws for moving said adjusting member.

5. ln a clutchA apparatus having. clutch elements movable into vand out et engagenie t with one another, a clutch member carrying certain. oit said clu" h elements clutch adjusting member carried' by clutch member and mounted thereon'iior eztiiecting a rapid adjustment o' 'the clutch, and means cooperating with said' adjusting member '.iioretliectin'g a` slow adjustment vot the clutch, said means including av iixed lug part secured to one 'ot said m'embersandan adjusting screw carried'by the other niembei' and adapted to engage saidjlug, said adjusting Vmeans being` adjustable while maintaining the clutchV in assembled condition. y v 'j 6. In a clutch apparatus having clutch ele-- .ments movable into and. out of" engagement with one another, a clutchniember carrying certain ofsaid vclutch elements, aclutch adjusting member-'carried by 'said clutch member and mounted thereon tor" effecting a rapid adjustment of the clutch, and means` cooperating with said adjusting member forV effectingv a slow4 adjustment of the clutch,

said means including a/lug'part secured toV one ot 'said' members and a bracketpart seng a` rapid adjustment ofthe adjust-` cured toz the other member and Vcarrying an `adjusting screw adapted to engage the lug part and Ameans for securing one of said parts in any one of' a plurality of operative a positions on its supporting member.

7`. In a clutch apparatus having vclutch ele'- ments movable into and out of engagement with one another, a clutch member carrying certain of said'clutch elements, an adjusting*l ring mounted on. said clutch. member in screw threaded relation therewith, said adjusting ring having av toolhold adapted for the reception of a suitable tool whereby a rapid adjusting vmovement of the adjusting ringmay be made, and screw meansfor effecting a slow *adjusting movement of the i adjusting ring. i

8. In a clutch,Y apparatus .having disc clutch elements movable into and out of enlgagement4 with one'another, a clutchl mein- V4ber carrying. certain of lsaid clutch elements" and forming a casing thereforsaid. casing i having a plnralityof apertures adjacent one of' the discs, adjusting pins passing through. f said apertures for engagement with said,

disc, an adjusting ring engaging said pins 'y said adjustingl ring having screw-threaded engagement with the casing and'adapted `forvr rotation to effect a rapid adjustment of the j clutch elements, a lug secured to the-adjust. ingring, aabracket secured to the casinoand means cooperating with the lug and ,bracket for effecting a slow ladjustment yof clutch elements and adjustingring, and kfor v locking the adjusting ring in :adjusted position.

9. In aV clutch apparatus 'having' disc Y clutchl elements movable'finto and Y out `ofengagement vwith one another, a clutch member carryingjc'ertain of said clutch elements and forming acasing therefor4 said-easing Vhaving a plurality of aperturesadjacent one of the discs, adjusting pinspassing-through said apertures for engagement Vwith said *,disc, an adjusting ring engaging said pins,

said adjusting ringA having screw threaded A Aengagement with the casing and adaptedfor f Vassembled condition.. Y Y A l v I 11. A clutch Vof, the character described comprising clutch elements ladapted to be'y rotation to e'ecta rapidvadjus'tni'ent of the f i.

clutch elements, a lug secured' to the adjust- Ving ring, a bracket secured to the casingY and means cooperating .with the lug andthe y j 'bracket for eecting a slowfadjustment `of j the clutch elements and adjusting ring, and

for locking the adjusting ring in adjustedj position, and means for attaching the bracket,`

in one of'a plurality ofpositionson the casfV s 10. Aclutch ofthe character described moved into and out of clutching engagement, with one another, means for moving Vsaid;

clutch elements into engagement with'V one comprising clutch elements ladapted"tobe,y j j another, and adjusting mechanism for-ad- VVjusting the'engagement of `said clutch ele- Y ments, said l' adjusting mechanism comprisfA ing means 'operable forv 'effecting rapid ,ad-f3' justment andmeans operablefor effecting' a slow adjustment, said adjusting means'v being `independent of said means :for moving the clutch elements, saidv adjusting ,mechanismv being soe'onstructed .and arranged vas Vtoen-j v j ablewo'perationV of either-of `,the adjusting j ,j means while maintainingthe clutchin its E.

movedinto and out of' clutching engagg'ementv` for adj' usting the, engagement "of said ,clutchv withone" another, operating mechanismfor f. Y, .salda clutch elements, adjusting mechanism .80.

elements, said' adjusting mechanism compris'-v ingV means operable'forefecting rapid ad-` j ustment and means operable'foreffecting a slow adjustment, said adjusting mechanism]l .beingindependent of'said operating-jmeich-f' anism,`said adjusting mechanism beingl sol v' constructed and arranged as to 'enablefoperal tion of either of theadjustingrmea-ns while` maintainingthe clutch'in'its.assembled conf- ,f n dition', and means. for locking j lsaid mecha'- nism in adjustedposition,

signature.fVV

vu0-v In testimony whereof ,hereto aiiizii I 

